Dear Joan,

Through my sailing colleague Gijs van Kemenade I was informed that you are very much involved in dinghy sailing and its organisation and also that you edit a magazine.

You may have heard from Gijs that I have a project in mind for the summer of 1990. The project consists of a sailing race for dinghies of the type Simoun 445. Though I know that this is a quite unfamiliar type of boat in Britain, I do hope to find participants also from your country. Please note that I will gladly assist participants in finding a 445 and assist also in equipment the boats for travelling. I would very much appreciate it if you could mention my project in the next issue of your dinghy magazine, as follows:

The boats will be uniformly of the type Simoun 445. A French design which has proven to be very reliable at sea in even very rough conditions, at the same time it is fast and racy and it offers primitive possibilities of sleeping on board. (Used boats can fairly easily be found in Holland, France and Belgium and around the lake of Geneva, prices are very modest between 1200 and 2000 HFl), sometimes even including a trailer).

Participation is free to anyone. However, it is indispensable for sake of safety of yourselves and other participants to be an experienced dinghy sailor. The sailing area is reputed for very fast changes in wind conditions.

The plan consists of an itinerary in the Aegean Sea, either along the coast of Turkey, starting point in Cigacik near Ismir, jumping across to a few Greek islands. Alternatively, a crossing from Turkey, starting point Kusadasi, to the mainland of Greece, Cape Sounion, and back again. The choice of itinerary will depend on the maximum available time for the participants (four weeks for a trip along the coast of Turkey and about six weeks for the crossing to and from Greece, not including travelling to and from the starting point).

The sailing will be like a race, consisting of flexible, daily targets, varying in length from ten to fifty n-miles. The targets will be adapted to the weather conditions.

Basically, the itinerary will be of such nature that the boats will be in protected harbours or bays by night. Sleeping will be on board of the boats or ashore on beaches, etc.

Sponsoring will be considered, but will mainly be left to the individual.

Period chosen — July and August.

Equipment for the boats is chosen individually. However, guidelines will in due course be available.

Just to cover my expenses of administration, there will be a modest subscription fee.

Expenses are individually for the participants.

Every participant is responsible for his own equipment and safety.

Please note, there will be no accompanying yacht or other vessel.

For practical reasons the number of participating boats has to be limited to a number of 10.

Reactions to the above to be sent to me: Erik Haverkorn Kleine Houtweg 65 2012 CC Haarlem Holland (Telephone 0 23 313904)